The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-25
ADVENTURES OF THE FIRST SPRING
VIOLET.
BY "rLORIBEL."

1t was warm, 6unsuluy ody III hPih,
and YOU could almost see the snow melt.
Only little soft patches remained scatter
ed here and there over the fields, and
they looked as il they could not hold out
much longer unless the sun stopped look
ing at them and went behind cloud.
But the sun thought he had been shut
up in the clouds long enough, and had
no idea OF going back again that day.
Everything else was glad to see him, he
said, and he was SO pleased himself TO be
out again that he smiled.
Two sparrows swung on sweet-brler
bush, and talked to each other about the
spring time.
Therel' said Mr.. Sparrow, 81 am
glad enough to see the last Of that snow.
Chip ! chip Did you notice, my dear,
how rapidly it disappeared at the last?'
"Yes," said Mrs. Sparrow; +" it seemed
in great hurry to go. Seems to me it
did the same thing last year when the
warm weather came"
"Of course" chirped Mr.. Sparrow
Ol COuI6cs ~ dlWoyS ooOSs <AhN 0O>~ y
you know the reason? How could the
little worms and things come up out OF
the ground if the snow stayed there all
summer? And then what would we do
for the good things to eat? See? And
Mr.. Sparrow ruffied up his feathers and
looked very dignihed, while Mrs. Spar
row said simply, ooh yes; OF course"
And the subject would have dropped
here had not Mr.. Sparrow caught sight
of very appetizing worm right beneath
him which was poking his head out Of
the ground.
81 see one now," chirped Mr.. Sparrow,
excitedly. "You stay right here and I'll
get him for you" So down he few to
capture the prize for his little mate,
which sat on the sweet-brier twig and
watched him fondly out of one eye,
thinking all the time how very good and
wise he was.
Now it happened that very morning
that little white violet had pushed her
head up out of the warm, moist earth,
and opened her eyes to see what was 60
ing on. She had been sleeping all win
ter under the sweet brier bush, on a lit
tie sunny slope in the meadow, and early
on this particular morning had felt strong
symptoms of waking up. Dear! dear I!
How stiff she did feel after such long
napl She would stretch herself little;
and in doing SO she stretched her head
right up out of the ground, and there she
was. And she wished she wasn't. To
be sure, the fresh air was delightful, and
the blue sky and sunshine were enough
to make anybody happy; but she was all
alone Not another violet to be seen any
where, and here was great giant OF a
sparrow struggling with worm right by
her sidel She felt sure the sparrow would
eat her if the worm got away. How she
wished she had waited till the other vio-
lets had come up and the grass had
grown taller!
But the sparrow had come off victori-
GUS in the encounter with his breakfast,
and had flown off to the top Of the sweet
brier bush.
That's good" said the violet, as the
skirmishing stopped and she heard the
sparrow fly away, and dared once more
to lift her head. "Birds are dreadful
creatures always eating something.
do wonder what they were made for"
Now if the birds had heard this they
would have considered it very good joke,
because they believed the world was made
for their sole benefit, and if they gave
any thought at all to bed of violets, it
was only to notice what very nice place
it was to look for lady-bugs and other
delicacies in their season.
But little Miss Violet had a very low
voice indeed, and nobody heard what she
said about the BIRDS Presently the spar
rows flew away, and all was quiet save
for the trickle of the tiny brook, which
was running away very fast, and trying
to get into the pond before Jack Frost
could get around again to freeze it up.
The little violet looked down at a rain
drop which glistened on grass-blsde at
her feet, and saw her face reflected in it,
w Ado PtOeey lnOO ~ LiC5u n1u
sweet and white This is what the violet
said to herself, but she had no idea she
was looking at her own face; she thought
it was one of her little cousins who had
just walked up, and she was filled with
delight at the idea of having compan-
ion.
"How do you do, my dear?" said she.
al am very glad to see you. was be-
ginning to think had come up too soon.
But wasn't it close down there toward the
asst, and isn't this beautiful world?"
But the little face made no reply, and
he violet went on: "You are little
osshful, aren't you? But you must not
be afraid of me. you know. I am very
good. Perhaps you haven't learned how
to talk yet?'
And still the little flower in the rain
drop was silent. Then the violet did
something that little boys and girls never
do-she lost her temper. Think of sweet
little white violet losing her temper | 1t
might have been because she didn't have
very much TO lose. Any way, she lost it and
called the little rain-drop violet an impo-
tie thing, and trowned at her. The rain
lrop violet frowned bacs, and then
fnfnr, a